Meet the Candidates in the Hammersmith and Chiswick Constituency
Eight people aiming to become the local MP
Clockwise from top left: Andrew Dinsmore - Conservative, Andy Slaughter - Labour, Naranee Ruthra-Rajan - Green, Eraj Rostaqi - Liberal Democrats, Bill Colegrave - Rejoin EU, Scott Dore - Workers Revolutionary Party
June 22, 2024
Forged from the merging of Hammersmith and the eastern end of the Brentford and Isleworth constituency, Hammersmith and Chiswick is one of the capital’s new seats for this election.
Cutting across two West London boroughs, Hammersmith and Fulham and Hounslow, the boundary changes mean that, on paper at least, it appears to be less of a Labour stronghold than the former Hammersmith seat.
The latest YouGov poll however still has Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith since 2010, as the favourite come 4 July. Conservative candidate Andrew Dinsmore is seen as his biggest challenger, albeit with a projected gap between the two of around 40 per cent.
See the full list of candidates below.
Rejoin EU – Bill Colegrave
Rejoin EU candidate Bill Colegrave told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he is standing because it is ‘painful’ to watch the General Election without the main parties addressing the B-word; Brexit.
He said the target for Rejoin EU is to ‘make enough noise’ to force one of the main parties into committing to renewing EU membership. “Right now the Tories are hamstrung by having allowed the Referendum to take place; Labour are deeply internally conflicted; even the Liberal Democrats can’t work out if they are going up in the lift or down on the escalator,” he said. “So none of them (other than Green and SNP) are even talking about Brexit as can be seen from their manifestos.”
“We want to make a showing that gets noticed by Tories and Labour; we want to make them feel uncomfortable, but also to make them feel that they will have real support when they have the courage to face the issue again.”
Conservative – Andrew Dinsmore
Andrew is a young, local candidate. He is Deputy Leader of the Opposition on Hammersmith and Fulham Council and calls himself a local champion in fighting crime. He is also a barrister and said reopening Hammersmith Bridge is one of his priorities. He has proposed moving it over to Transport for London. He also wants to make it easier to build affordable homes in the area.
He told the LDRS,“As a barrister, I have spent my career representing, and fighting for, clients on subjects ranging from shipping to cybersecurity. I’m a young, local candidate and champion for our local area, and have served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition on the Council. I want to use those skills to represent you in Parliament to drive forward my plan for our area.”
Workers Revolutionary Party – Scott Dore
According to Scott Dore’s campaign material, the Workers Revolutionary Party candidate’s key policies are to establish a Palestinian state, scrap student fees, defend the NHS, build council housing, and end immigration control.
Speaking to the LDRS, he said: “I am very concerned at the huge cuts that have been made to people’s standard of living, particularly over housing, the NHS, education and social care. These attacks will continue under both Labour and Tories who are only interested in business and are making workers and their families bear the brunt of this capitalist crisis.
“I want to see a workers’ Government and a planned nationalised economy as the only way forward today.”
Workers Party Britain – Raj Gill
On the Workers Party Britain website, Raj Gill’s priorities are listed as calling for an “immediate, unconditional ceasefire, recognition of the Palestinian state and justice for Palestine”, supporting the homeless, empowering workers including teachers and doctors, nationalising utility companies, moving to a subscription service for the BBC, and establishing publicly owned alternatives to Amazon, Netflix and Starbucks.
Raj Gill (right) with George Galloway
Mr Gill is quoted as saying: “My background speaks for itself — I have been a tireless defender of working class people my entire life. I have fought for a long time and spoke out for the people of Palestine. I demand a ceasefire.
“I have dedicated over 50 years of my life as a Trade Unionist, and have been all across The South of our country, fighting for regular working class people. For all kinds of issues; pay, housing, equality, and everything in-between.
“A vote for me is a vote for a man with a strong, solid background in politics.”
Reform – Louise Petano-Heathcote
Louise Petano-Heathcote has a background in asset management, and according to her profile on Reform’s website, has worked for the Prime Minister of Qatar and served as director for companies in the housing sector and community projects.
On why she is standing for Reform, she wrote: “I have stood for election with the Conservatives and have observed how successive Prime Ministers have ignored critical advice. Enough is enough. Your Labour MP has been in post for years, during which the area has declined.”
Louise Petano-Heathcote
Ms Petano-Heathcote lists key local issues as including problems with antisocial behaviour, overburdened food banks and police stations closing. “I fundamentally disagree with all forms of extremism and believe in ‘loving your neighbour’ of every creed and race,” she added. “I believe that good quality of life, excellent education and traditional family values are essential to the success of future generations. Dramatic Reform in many areas combined with economic growth are key to the success of our nation.”
Liberal Democrats – Eraj Rostaqi
Born in Afghanistan and raised in the UK, Eraj Rostaqi has been an activist for the Liberal Democrats since joining the party in 2018. He lives in Chiswick with his wife and young daughter, and lists his local priorities as the health care service, including fighting for resources for Charing Cross and Hammersmith hospitals, working to reopen Hammersmith Bridge, and improving street safety.
Mr Rostaqi told the LDRS: “I’m standing because, after living in this constituency for over a decade, I’ve seen local services decline under Tory government policies.
“NHS services are struggling, housing is in crisis, the cost of living has worsened, environmental issues are ignored, and our international position is weakened. I believe we need change, and I’m committed to making a difference.”
Green – Naranee Ruthra-Rajan
Naranee Ruthra-Rajan writes on the Green Party website that she has lived in Hammersmith since 2006, having been born in the area though growing up in Kingston before moving back. She notes that her former job as a primary school teacher and current role in a young people’s charity have led her to focus “energetically on encouraging people to engage critically with ideas and challenges, not finding fault for the sake of it, but to identify answers to problems and to imagine a hopeful future where real, big, exciting changes become possible in people’s lives”.
She adds her priority as an MP would be to identify “the best ways to become a genuinely child-friendly country”. This includes equal access to green spaces, creative education and clean air.
“I’m committed to working for a Greener, more equal constituency here and would ask you to support me as the Green candidate for Hammersmith and Chiswick.”
Labour – Andy Slaughter
Andy Slaughter has represented people across West London for almost 40 years, as a former Leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, MP in Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush, and since 2010, MP for Hammersmith.
As MP, he has held positions both in Government and opposition, including Shadow Housing and Justice ministers and Shadow Solicitor General. Prior entering Parliament he was a practising barrister.
Mr Slaughter told the LDRS: “Fourteen years of Conservative misgovernment have wrecked the economy and our public services, from the NHS to the justice system. Many families are struggling with the cost of living crisis and challenges of poor housing and underfunded schools. The country needs change and Labour is the only party that has the ability and motivation to turn our fortunes around.”
Full list of Hammersmith and Chiswick candidates
Bill Colegrave – Rejoin EU
Andrew Dinsmore – Conservatives
Scott Dore – Workers Revolutionary Party
Raj Gill – Workers Party
Louise Petano-Heathcote – Reform
Eraj Rostaqi – Liberal Democrats
Naranee Ruthra-Rajan – Green Party
Andy Slaughter – Labour Party
Ben Lynch and Adrian Zorzut - Local Democracy Reporters
